Global Citizen Project
The Global Citizen Project combines the interdisciplinary perspectives of political economy,
political sociology, and political communication with new information technologies to advance
research on the implications of international trade and the multinational corporate economy for
workers, unions, citizens, and democratization in general. The project is a collaborative effort of
the Center for Labor Studies (CLS), the Center for Communication and Civic Engagement (CCCE),
and the University Libraries Digital Initiatives Program.
A central theoretical focus of the Global Citizen Project is to study the origins and patterns of new
forms of citizen participation that transcend traditional distinctions between local, national, and
global politics. Of equal interest is studying the potentially democratizing uses of new
communication technologies to bring people into the type of contact that enables effective
political action. Our aim is to develop student - faculty collaboration that integrates the research
and educational experiences of students.
We therefore seek to use the research process to develop faculty-student projects to explore the
meaning of global citizenship. What does it entail? How are the forms of global citizenship
contingent on one's resources and privileges? Are younger generations that are increasingly
disconnected from national electoral politics beginning to redefine their public commitments in
global terms? As a working definition, we propose that global citizens are persons whose
experience of membership, agency, or political cause is global, or at least transnational. Global
citizens find themselves affected by transnational power arrangements and regulations, and they
are trying to affect government, corporate, and social policies in countries and contexts beyond
their own national boundaries.
Our current research agenda involves the following:
Exploring the meaning of global citizenship, both through research and practical
application.
Monitoring and modeling global citizen action networks formed by labor, faith,
environmental, human rights, development, and other non-governmental organizations.
We want to learn about the strategic goals of such groups and model how they form
associations, establish social networks internally and with other groups, set goals, and
change these over time. We also want to learn about the outcomes of intra- and inter-
group strategies.
Assessing the degree to which such groups expand the concept of "democratic
accountability."
Collecting qualitative data about direct citizen action. We are especially interested in
learning about activists' experiences, strategic thinking, and their evaluation of the
effectiveness of their action.
Studying national and international news representation of direct citizen action.
Conducting interviews with prominent global citizens involved in a variety of campaigns,
beginning with anti-sweatshop efforts.
A general overview of developments in the movement for democracy across borders can be
found in Benjamin Barber's article "Globalizing Democracy." Events and issues facing global
citizens can be followed on the Global Media Channel.
The Global Citizen Project is currently developing the WTO History Project in collaboration with
the Center for Labor Studies in pursuit of these goals.